Protein Therapeutics for Cancer and MRSA

Percipio Biotherapeutics is a biotechnology company based in Los Angeles, CA, with operations in the United Kingdom. Percipio has worldwide and exclusive development rights to PB102, an anti-CD55 chimeric monoclonal antibody.

The parent antibody of PB102 has already been safely administered to over 100 humans. In these patients, through radioimaging studies, the antibody was proven to be highly selective in the binding of various tumors, including colorectal, breast, lung, gastric, pancreatic, and osteosarcoma.

In 2005, the antibodies market was valued in excess of $14 billion. Within the total protein therapeutics market, monoclonal antibodies represent the fastest growing segment.

The market success of targeted cancer therapies is unusual in that they do not typically replace other drugs. They are often added to therapy regimes, having the effect of adding to the total market. Some regimes are also increasing from two to three drugs, creating additional market opportunity. In addition to colorectal cancer and combination therapy with Rituxan, PB102 has broad applicability in other cancers given that CD55 is over-expressed on 80% of solid tumors. This includes potential for treating breast and lung cancers as well.

In addition to developing PB102, the company will focus on adding shareholder value through two other programs. PB108, a protein therapeutic that has shown highly novel results in vivo, may potentially be used as a prophylactic agent (i.e. vaccine) against MRSA and other antibiotic-resistant superbugs. Novel combination therapies will also be sought through use of stochastic search algorithms (often used in engineering applications) and aimed at treatment of MRSA and the diseases of normal aging.